A History of Cottam Chapel and Primary School

On Friday, 6th May, 2011, parishioner John Cookson gave a very enlightening and enjoyable talk about the history of Cottam Chapel and the Primary School.  The event took place in the Haydock Room where it was very encouraging to see a full house.

In his trademark relaxed style - and with visual aids and display boards - John not only covered the historical facts but also gave an insight as to what times must have been like in previous centuries.

With his talk being timed to perfection, the bonus was that there was ample opportunity afterwards for refreshments and for people to discuss and compare notes among themselves, view the display boards and to ask John questions.

While John is a mine of information about the history of St Andrew's church and the Cottam area in general (and I for one have great cause to be grateful for John's valued contributions for this website!) he appealed for any further knowledge people might have to add to data he already has.

To John's obvious delight, at least two 'extras' were brought to his attention before the evening was over.  The first was that there was absolute proof provided that a 'mystery priest' photographed in the doorway of the presbytery around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was in fact Fr Francis J Gillow who was parish priest at St Andrew's between 1886 and 1895 and would later become a Monsignor.  (Here is a link to that story - 'Mystery Priest')

A nice local touch to this is that confirmation of identity was provided by Fr John-Paul Sanderson - a  Cistercian monk and a descendant of the Gillow family - who was born in Fulwood, brought-up in Lytham St Annes and and, for good measure, he was a student of our current parish priest Fr Adrian Towers at both Upholland and Ushaw colleges.

The other great surprise John had was in connection with Elizabeth Ireland who was a housekeeper to both Fr Gillow and Fr Barker because her granddaughter, Mrs Sheila Barker, was present at the talk.